Lateral stop and lubricator support for railroad journal boxes



Oct. 30, 1962 R. K. H. RUNKNAGEL 3,

LATERAL STOP AND LUBRICATOR SUPPORT FOR RAILROAD JOURNAL BOXES Filed Nov. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Ra; ff 6 fiwwrlvAszl.

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06L 1962 R. K. H. RUNKNAGEL 3,

LATERAL STOP AND LUBRICATOR SUPPORT FOR RAILROAD JOURNAL BOXES Filed Nov. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l C -25; Z FIG. .6. l

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United States Patent Office 3,061,383 Patented Oct. 30,. 1962 3,061,383 LATERAL STOP AND LUBRICATOR SUPPORT FOR RAILROAD JOURNAL BOXES Rolf K. H. Runknagel, Encino, Califl, assignor to The Rugero Company, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, a corporation of Liechtenstein Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 854,872 9 Claims. (Cl. 308-38) This invention has to do with railroad car journal boxes and is particularly concerned with lateral stops for the purpose of preventing harmful lateral movements of the journal relative to the box under certain conditions as when the cars are impacted one against the other or when the cars are operated over rough track, it being a general object of this invention to provide stops of the character referred to that can be easily installed and/ or replaced and which operate efficiently and reliably when placed in working position.

The design and construction of railroad car truck assemblies is highly developed and in general is standardized throughout the railroad industry. The axle and wheels are built as units of construction and are characterized by a pair of spaced wheels carried on a central axle, there being trunnions or journals concentric with and projecting from the ends of the axle outboard of the wheels. The railroad trucks are usually supported by two or more axle and wheel units and are characterized by side frames having a journal box at each wheel journal. The journals extend into the journal boxes to engage with the brasses or journal bearings and to engage with oil bearing Waste or with suitable lubricators. The outer ends of the journal boxes are closed by covers while the inner ends of the boxes are provided with dust guards in the form of wooden panels or in the form of flexible assemblies surrounding the journals and carried in the dust-guard slots.

Heretofore, lateral stops have been proposed and they have been used to limited extent, each being characterized by an enlongate bar fashioned to fit the particular box involved and positioned closely alongside and substantially as long as the journal that it is to engage. Said bars are rigid and usually have a central depression that accommodates the usual stop that is integral with the box. The said prior art stops may operate satisfactorily after they are in place but they are very nearly impossible to install, due to the proportioning and features of construction that are involved in the standardized journal boxes and related journals. That is, said lateral stops cannot be installed until after the journal is in position, due to the fact that the journal has a radially projecting collar at the terminal end thereof. Thus, the usual procedure is to assemble the journal and box, with the bearing brass in place, and to then insert the lateral stops into position alongside the journal. This method of assembly is not easily accomplished because of the limited space within the box when the journal and bearing brass are in working position, and therefore, various manipulations of the journal and box are restorted to. For instance, the box is lifted from the journal and moved from one side to the other alternately installing the two opposite lateral stops, and this requires that the entire railroad car be lifted. Obviously, the installation of ordinary lateral stops is a tedious operation that requires considerable time and effort.

An object of this invention is to provide lateral stops in a railroad car journal box that are installed and/or removed all without resorting to manipulation of the journal relative to the box. With the structure provided, the lateral stops are placed in the journal box before entry of the journal therein and pass the radial collar at the terminal end of the journal, after which the said lateral stops are shifted into working position.

It is an object of this invention to provide lateral stops in a railroad car journal box that can be initially placed within the box before the journal is entered therein and which are shiftable into working position after the journal is entered therein. With the structure provided, the lateral stops are placed in, or are applied to the side walls of, the empty journal box before the bearing brass is placed therein and before the journal is passed therein through the dust-guard end of the box. After the journal is in place and is engaged with the bearing brass the lateral stops that I provide are shifted into working position to be alongside the journal at the opposite sides thereof. Another object of this invention is to provide means .in a journal box to shift the lateral stops from a retracted position to a working position, all without disturbing the rnormal placement of the journal in the box. With the .structure provided, the lateral stops are initially applied to the inner side walls of the journal box and there are keys that are operable to drop into position to locate the lateral stops in Working position for engagement with journal to prevent lateral shifting thereof. It is anotherobject of this invention to provide lateral stops in a journal box and wherein keys are employed to locate the said stops in working position and to provide means for locating and guiding both the stops per se and the keys relative to the stops. With the structure pro vided, the said stops are of limited bulk and are positioned relative to each other, at one side of the journal, by couplers, and the keys are retained to and directed between alternate positions by guides.

It is still another object of the invention to provide lateral stops in a journal bearing box of the character thus far referred to that incorporates means to support and carry a journal lubricator in working position beneath said journal. With the structure that I provide, there are rails incorporated in the lateral stop structure that receive hangers which in turn carry the lubricator.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view taken througha typical journal box and illustrates the initial installation of the lateral stops that I provide, showing .the journaland a portion of the lubricator in phantom lines. 'FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2'on FIG. 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the parts that I provide, FIG. 3 being a view of the key that positions the lateral stops and FIG. 4 being a view of the lateral stops as they are .cou- ,pled together as a unit. FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 5--5 on FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and shows the lateral stops after they have been shifted to the working position as determined by the keys, as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hangers that 1 is used to support and carry the lubricator. And, FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to a portion of FIG. 6, and shows a modified form of construction.

The journal stop and lubricator support of the present invention is intended for use in connection with railroad cars having the general construction above referred to, it being understood, however, that there are other machines involving journal constructions that may be provided with the structure of the present invention. In accordance with the usual railroad truck construction, there is a journal box Z carried at .each end of the-axle .and wheel unit. The exact details of construction may 'vary widely as circumstances require, the particular construction shown being for purpose of illustration only.

The axle and wheel unit of a typical railroad truck involves a central elongate axle (not shown), a pair of spaced wheels (not shown), and a pair of trunnions or journals X that project from the ends of the axle outboard of the wheels. The axle is a straight shaft-like part, the wheels being carried on the hubs 13 or end portions thereof. A common journal construction is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings which may involve a turned dust seal seat 14, the journal 15 per se, and a journal collar 16 (all in phantom lines). The seat 14, journal 15, and collar 16, are turned concentric with the axle, the seat 14 extending outwardly from the hub 13 and joined with the hub through asuitable fillet. The journal 15 is turned down to be of considerably smaller diameter than the seat 14 and extends outwardly from the seat 14 and joins with the seat through a fillet 17. The fillet 17 is formed on a radius that is tangent to the surface of the journal 15 and substantially normal tothe surface of the seat 14.

The journal collar 16 is carried at the terminal end of the journal X and projects radially to substantially the same diameter as the seat 14. The seat 14 is of sufficient axial extent to accommodate and engage with a sealing element while the journal 15 is substantially elongate and characterized by a smooth surface adapted to have bearing engagement with the brass of the journal box Z. The collar 16 is of an axial extent to afford necessary strength and rigidity. Under operating conditions, the journal 15 takes the radial thrust or supporting load while the fillet 17 and flange 16 take the axial thrust or side loads.

The journal box Z is an elongate element that extends axially of the axle and rot-atably receives the journal X and involves generally a housing 21, a brass or journal bearing 22, a bearing wedge 23, and a lubricator Y. The housing 21 has a top 25 that engages with the wedge 23 and has sides 26 that depend from the top establishing a chamber for receiving the journal X. The bottom of the housing 21 is closed by a sump or reservoir 27 for containing oil or lubricant. Thus, an elongate chamber, substantially rectangular in cross-section, is formed and is of a size in excess of the diameter of the journal X but only enough larger to accommodate the bearing 22, wedge 23, and lubricator Y (a portion of the lubricator being shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1). As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, and 6, there are inwardly projecting stops 18 formed integrally with the side 16 of the housing, said stops 18 extending from the center of the housing to the top 25 thereof.

As clearly illustrated throughout the drawings there is a journal X, a lubricator Y, and the journal box Z. The lubricator Y may vary widely and is carried in the reservoir 27 and acts to absorb lubricant and to apply it to the journal X. The particular lubricator Y illustrated has a holder 31 for an absorbing pad 32 that has depending wicking 33 that depends into the oil contained in the reservoir. The holder 31 is a flat body of pliant material, preferably of rubber or the like, that is flexible and which can be bent to the contour of the journal X. As shown, the absorbent pad 32 is supported at the upper side of the holder 31, the wicking 33 depending through suitable openings in the holder, and there are transverse supporting springs 34 underlying the holder. Said springs 34 are provided in pairs and extend through locating ears in the underside of the holder, and by a pair of supporting springs at each end portion of the lubricator and a. pair at the center portion thereof. In practice, the springs 34 are tensioned and secured to hangers, as later described, so as to pull the lubricator upwardly into light pressured engagement with the lowermost part of the journal X.

In accordance with the invention I have provided the lateral stops and lubricator supports which are applicable to the journal box before entry of the journal and hearing brass therein. In FIG. 1 of the drawings I have shown the parts and elements that are involved as they appear when initially installed in the journal box Z and before said parts and elements are shifted into working position. As indicated in phantom lines in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 the journal X is adapted to pass into working position Without interference of the collar 16 with the lateral stop elements.

However, in FIG. 6 of the drawings 1 have shown the parts and elements as they appear when the lateral stops are shifted into working position, in which position certain features thereof are adapted to support and carry the lubricator Y. As shown, I have provided pairs of stops A one at each end of the journal X and at opposite sides thereof, a coupler B joining the stops of each pair, a key C for positioning each stop, and a support D at each pair of stops A for carrying the lubricator Y.

The stops A are alike and are adapted to be carried between sides 26 of the housing Z and spaced apart so that there is a stop A at each end portion of the journal X. As shown in FIG. 5 the stops A are carried by opposite sides 26 of the housing and in a horizontal plane that extends through the center axis of the journal X. Thus, there are four stops A and each is an abutment or bearing type element of rectangular configuration and characterized by a fiat vertically disposed bearing face 40. More particularly, the stop A has a back 41 and it has top, bottom, and side walls 42, 43, 44 and 45, respectively. The front bearing face 40 and back 41 are spaced and parallel the body of the stop A being made of soft steel alloy or bronze, or the like, and there is a stem 46 projecting normally from the back 41 and slideably engaged through a bore 47 in the side 26 of the housing. The stem 46 is a straight elongated part projecting centrally of the back 41 and it is threaded at its outer end portion to receive a fastener 48 in the form of a hexagonal nut. As is indicated, the stop A with its main body and stem 46 is integrally formed of one piece of material adapted to have bearing engagement with the bearing surface of the journal without scoring the same.

The coupler B is provided in accordance with the present invention to join each stop A of a pair thereof so that said stops A are properly aligned and located for facility of assembly with the side 26 of the housing Z. In this way, identical stops A are employed and are simply arranged or spaced differently in order to be accommodated to different journal boxes. As is best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings the coupler B is a straight elongated part that extends between the two stops A of a pair to secure and hold them together. In the particular case illustrated, the coupler B is a structural angle with a top flange 50 fastened as by welding to the bottoms of the two stops A and with depending flange 51 extending in the plane of the backs 41 of the stops, respectively. Thus, the two stops A are held in spaced coplanar relationship and spaced laterally in a direction longitudinally of the journal, all as particular journal box dimensions require.

The keys C are alike and each is an individual blockshaped positioning element, and in practice may be considered a wedge element, and involves, generally, a spacer 55 and a guide 60. The spacer 55 is comparable in size and shape to one of the stops A above described and has fiat spaced and parallel front and back faces 56 and 57 and it has top, bottom and side walls 52, 53, 54 and 55, respectively. The spacer 55 is characterized by an elongated vertically disposed slot-shaped opening 58 and adapted to freely pass the stem 46 and said opening 58 has a downwardly faced seat 59 adapted to engage said stern and thereby position the spacer 55 adjacent the back 41 of the stop A. As clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the opening 58 is faced downwardly to receive the stem 46 at the bottom 53 of the spacer.

The guide 60 is a flat plate-like part that extends downward from the bottom 53 in order to extend the slot-shaped opening 58. In the particular case illustrated, the guide 60 is a relatively thin part, preferably of sheet steel, that underlies the back 57 of the spacer and which is secured thereto as by welding, and which has an elongated opening 68 therein that has an upper portion that is coincidental with the opening 58, and a lower portion that extends downwardly for limited movement relative to the stem 46. That is, the bottom of the opening 68 is closed, as is the top, so that the key C, as formed by the spacer 55 and guide 69, is restricted to alternate upper and lower positions.

In FIG. 8 of the drawings I have shown a second form, or modified form of the present invention. In the case now under consideration the parts and elements of construction remain the same with the exception of the key C which is resilient and adapted to cushion any blow or impact of the journal against the lateral stop A. As clearly indicated, the key C involves a spacer 5.5 and a guide 60. The spacer 55' is made of resilient material such as rubber, or the like, and said spacer is secured to the guide 60 as by vulcanizing. The said guide 60' is the same part as the guide 60 above described and the spacer 55' has the same features as the first described spacer, including the said guide openings and seat. In this case I have shown the stem of the stop A secured by a nut 48 and locked by a cotter 48'. It will be apparent that the stops A are held in Working position and are also free to yield under impact forces.

A feature of the key C is the provision of a tool engaging lip 67 that is bent inwardly from the back 47 to overlie the top 52 of the spacer 55. Said lip 67 is, in practice, substantially coextensive with the center of the spacer 55 and has a reinforced edge spaced from the top 52. It will be apparent that a relatively thin or pointed tool or implement can be readily inserted beneath the lip 67 and employed to raise or lower the key C, all as circumstances require.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the unit formed by the pair of stops A and the coupler B, and the unit formed by the spacer 55 and guide 60 are easily formed elements of construction that are durable and capable of being handled without damage thereto. It is to be observed that the units are alike and identical, the coupled stops A being spaced as circumstances require for right or left hand use and each key C being adapted for use over a stem 46 to operate behind a stop A. With the structure thus far described, it is a simple matter to insert a key C over each stem 46 with the bottom 53 of the spacer 55 resting upon the top Wall 42 of the stop A and with the depending guide lying adjacent the back 41 of the stop A. This assembly of three units is then applied to the inside of the housing Z by passing the stems 46 through bores 47 in the side 26 and by applying the nuts 48. In practice, a sleeve 70 is initially engaged over each stem 46 to the end that only the terminal ends of said stems need be threaded. Said initial installation of the stop unit and key units is best illustrated in the FIG. 1,- and FIG. 5 clearly shows that said initial installation is duplicated at opposite sides of the housing Z, there being two like or identical right and left installations. I

With the parts and elements initially installed as above described it is to be observed that the bearing faces 40 of the opposed stops A are positioned diametrically of and outside of the periphery of the collar 16, whereby said journal collar is free to pass the stops without interference. With the journal X in position, and in supporting engagement with the bearing brass, the nuts 48 are removed and the sleeves 70 eliminated, whereupon the stops A are manipulated and moved inwardly and so that the keys C can drop behind the said stops to lie intermediate the said stops and the side 26 of the housing. It will be apparent that the slot-shaped openings 58 and 68 guide the key C and that the seat 59 positions the key in alignment with the stop A. With the keys in position it is a simple matter to reapply the nuts 48, preferably with Washers 71 and to thereby tighten the stops A onto the keys C. The latter tightening functions to lock the stops A in working position and the spacers of the keys C function to position the faces 40 at or near the periphery of the journal X and so as to prevent excessive lateral shifting of the journal.

In addition to the foregoing the present invention involves the support D for carrying the lubricator Y, said support being incorporated in the stop unit above described. As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the support D involves a rail 75 that is carried by the coupler B of each stop unit. More particularly, the rail 75 is carried by the depending flange 51 of the coupler and is preferably a tubular rail that is track-like in form with an open side. That is, a slot 76 extends coextensively along the rail, said rail thereby presenting an elongated and restricted opening. As shown in FIGS, 6 and 7, the rail is adapted to slideably pass a hanger 77 having a pair of spaced hooks 78. The hooks are engaged with the ends of the springs 34 of the lubricator Y, each hanger 77 having a pair of books engaged with a pair of springs. Further, as is indicated in FIG. 7, a flexible cable extends from the hanger 77 and in practice extends between the hangers at opposite sides of the journal box and connects them for facility of handling. With the rails and hangers employed as described the stop units are cooperatively employed to support and carry the lubricator, thus eliminatin g the usual complex arrangements that are ordinarily resorted to for supporting the lubricator.

Having described only the typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but

wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebetween to engage with a bearing, opposed stop elements and one carried by each of said opposite sides of the housing, each stop element having a stem laterally shiftable through a bore in the side of the housing, means engaging said stems for securement of the stop elements, and a laterally shiftable key within the housing and alternately shiftable from positions displaced from the stop elements to positions between the stop elements and the side to position the stop elements adjacent diametrically opposite sides of the journal.

2. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebetween to engage with a bearing, opposed stop elements and one carried by each of said opposite sides of the housing, each stop element having a stem laterally shiftable through a bore in the side of the housing, means engaging said stems for securement of the stop elements, and a laterally shiftable key within the housing and slotted to engage over the stem thereof and alternately shiftable from positions displaced from the stop elements to positions between the stop elements and the side to position the stop elements adjacent diametrically opposite sides of the journal.

3. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebetween to engage with a bearing, opposed stop elements and one car-ried by each of said opposite sides of the housing, each stop element having a stem laterally shiftable through a bore in the side of the housing, means engaging said stems for securement of the stop elements, and a later-ally shiftable key within the housing and with a slotted guide to engage over the stem thereof and alternately shiftable from positions displaced from the stop elements to positions between the stop elements and the side to 4 position the stop elements adjacent diametrically opposite sides of the journal.

4. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebetween to engage with a bearing, a lateral stop unit at each side of the housing and each unit including, a pair of spaced and laterally shiftable stop elements carried by the side of the housing, a coupler extending between and joining the stop elements, each stop element having a stem laterally shiftable through a bore in the side of the housing, rneans engaging said stems for securement of the stop elements, and a laterally shiftable key within the housing and engageable between each stop element and a side to position the lateral stop units with the stop elements adjacent diametrically opposite sides of the journal.

5. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebeto engage over the stem thereof and alternately-shiftable from positions displaced from the stop elements to positions between the stop elements and the side to position the stop element of the lateral stop unit adjacent diametrically opposite sides of the journal.

6. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebetween to engage with a bearing, a lateral stop unit at each side of the housing and each unit including, a pair of spaced and laterally shiftable stop elements carried by the side port a lubricator beneath the journal.

7. In combination with a journal box of the character described and having a housing with opposite vertical and parallel sides and a journal entering therebetween to engage with a bearing, a lateral stop unit at each side of the housing and each unit including, a pair of spaced and laterally shiftable stop elements carried by the side of the housing, a coupler extending between and rigidly joining the stop elements and comprising a rail projecting inwardly therefrom, and hangers slidably engaged with the rails to support a lubricator beneath the journal.

8. A lateral stop for use in a journal box of the character described and having a housing with a vertical side and a journal entering the housing parallel with the side to engage with a bearing, and including, a laterally shiftaole stop element having a stem to be slidably engaged through a lateral bore in the side of the housing, and a key of resilient material to be shiftable on said wall and with a guide slotted to engage over the stem and alternately shiftable from a position displaced from the stop element to a position engaged with the stop element and also to be engaged with the side to position the stop element adjacent the journal.

9. A lateral stop unit for use in a journal box of the char-acter described and having a housing with a vertical side and a journal entering the housing parallel with the side to engage with a bearing, and including, a pair of stop elements and each having a stem to be slidably engaged through a lateral bore in the side of the housing, a coupler extending between and rigidly joining the two stop elements, and a laterally shiftable key of resilient material to be shiftable on said wall at each stop element and each with a slotted guide to engage over a stem and alternately shiftable from a position displaced fromsaid stop element to a position engaged with said stop element and also to be engaged with the side to position the stop element adjacent the journal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,987 Sharpneck May 7, 1889 701,065 Magee May 27, 1902 1,855,903 Brittain Apr. 26, 1932 1,899,010 Brittain et al. Feb. 28, 1933 2,901,296 Sweger Aug. 25, 1959 2,913,285 Einwaechter Nov. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,122,090 France May 14, I956 

